Mumbai: Academy Award-nominated director Wolfgang Petersen, who previously teamed with Columbia Pictures on such hit films as Das Boot, In the Line of Fire and Air Force One, will helm the new science fiction thriller Uprising, it was announced by Columbia Pictures presidents Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach. The film will be produced by Red Wagon Productions’ Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher.

Petersen, Wick and Fisher have brought on board Charles Leavitt, who will write a new draft of the screenplay. Leavitt’s many credits include the films Blood Diamond, KPAX, The Mighty, and the upcoming The Express.

In Uprising, planet Earth has been occupied by a powerful Alien race; Mankind has surrendered, but some fight on. This is the story of their resistance.

Commenting on the announcement, Belgrad said, "We’re thrilled to be back in business with Wolfgang Petersen – he is a masterful storyteller and just the right director to handle Uprising’s mix of action, suspense, and drama. With Doug and Lucy guiding the project, Wolfgang Petersen in the director’s chair, and Chuck Leavitt writing, we believe Uprising will be an alien invasion movie that will rival the best in the genre."

Petersen said," I am really excited to be working on this epic and unique science fiction thriller and can’t imagine a better creative team to be collaborating with than Doug, Lucy, Chuck, and my friends at Sony, who have earned my respect with the many films we have made together."